Integral lock with an integral handle?

Haze said:
I hate to keep doing this, but that idea has been thrown about here in the CRK forum a few times. :D
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Why does that even matter? Do you decide when I am allowed to be enthusiastic about an idea I have not come across before? C'mon Haze....just cause they're balls, doesn't mean you have to bust them. :p
 
whp said:
I prefer the flow through design.
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Me, too. So much easier to clean and lighter. I don't see any advantage to a one-piece design. Cool from an engineering standpoint, but not very practical, IMHO.
 
I was fortunate enough to grab an MR Estrella and it's pretty sweet. But I prefer two separate slabs for many reasons. Two of those reasons are COST and scale diversity. Cook's were in the $800 range I believe and climbed and Raymond's already made a jump from $685 to $785 within a year or so. I realize CRK's workforce but costs would still skyrocket and stock/availability would diminish. A limited release would be mighty nifty though. I like the idea of having a swappable G10 or CF slab.
 
1AbominAble1 said:
An integral CRK, sweet idea !
I doubt he'll ever make one but if he did I'd buy it. I don't think that they're necessarily better than the two slab bed design but they are a marvel in their own right that is a pleasure for any knife but or machinist to own and spend time using or just plain looking at. I've had a couple of Estrella's, fondled several more, handled the Microtech Anax ( best non otf knife they ever made), and I had the pleasure of spending some time with a Rassenti Nirvana( awesome ). I liked them all very much but 2 things always bugged me.
1) they're heavy when compared to a non integral.
2) I wondered how they'd repair them if the lock ever wore out.

On the Estrella it'd be a new blade, not sure if the stop pin could've been pressed out of the Nirvana and a larger hole drilled through it to accommodate a larger pin to reduce lock engagement could be done or not.

I know that neither of these two things are an issue on a Sebenza.

The feel of the full backed titanium integral handle is superlative though and I really would like to see Chris flex his muscles and show the custom guys( and even Microtech with the Anax ) how it's done !
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rneiman3 said:
How about a 'semi' integral integrated lock (similar to the Strider design) where the presentation slab could be screwed on with 2 screws & the seam would be nearly invisible (given Chris' mastery of machining)?

Then you could have an integral design that could still be taken down for cleaning & look "streamlined" to boot.
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I would already consider the Microtech Anax a semi-integral considering the lock bar is bolted on with a bolted on lock face insert and bolted in stop pin.

Integrals are supposed to be about simple, clean designs with minimal hardware. My Estrella has two piece of hardware showing, the pivot and pocket clip screw. The Anax has EIGHT.
 
Yeah, I'd buy a solid, one piece CRK folder in a heart beat. Not like a Strider, though, unless you're talking about two slabs of titanium with one side having a milled out backspacer.
 
With Spyderco now joining the crowd offering Integral-handled Ti frame locks, I thought I'd bump this post to see where the fans are at with this idea these days.
 
Not sure how I missed this before.

Would I like to see a single piece of Ti for a handle..Sure..perhaps a limited run of 500 pieces or so..This would be a decent indicator of the market. Would it bear the cost of the design combined with the stringent demands it would take to create it.

Interesting thought though.. A few companies are doing this for the enthusiast market,..but I am curious of the cost and of the returns and lastly, the longevity of the design.
SCK can do this as he has limited availability and created a mystique about it. Not sure about lionsteel and now Spyderco. Given enough interest, time and demand,..anything is possible.
 
It'll be interesting to see what the price point is on the Spyderco Nirvana when it hits the street. Might provide some opportunity to extrapolate what CRK might charge to produce a similar beast. I think in a way the Integral handled framelock is the latest evolution of Chris Reeves initial great idea with the R.I.L. A final simplification if you get what I mean.
 
Very interested to see what the Spyderco Nirvana goes for on the street, plus I love that S90V blade steel. Also, I agree with lem 100%. I looked and searched until I was able to find a brand new Lochsa and honestly was not impressed. It felt like a dainty knife that I just paid $2K too much for. Plus, if you hold it next to a Sebenza and envision that it had the "see threw" appearance than they are almost identical. Fancy, yes. For edcing, no.
Chris has gone with the 2 slab design since day one and I seriously doubt that will ever change. But, that's just my two cents :).
 
CRK have stated many, many times they are not in the business of rehashing what others have already done, I think it's more than fair to say it's not going to be happening. :)
 
Hey, I'd be just as happy with a left-handed micarta 25!

Oh wait - that's another thread... :D
 
Haze said:
CRK have stated many, many times they are not in the business of rehashing what others have already done, I think it's more than fair to say it's not going to be happening. :)
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I guess I don't see the concept of an integral handled knife as a rehash but more of a new possibility. Integral handles are an emerging technology that until recent advancements in machining where hard to mass produce for a reasonable price. The manufacturers that are producing them are advancing the possibilities of what a pocket knife can be, and how it can be made. I am drawn to CRK because of their simplicity. How much more simple can you get that only having a pivot and nothing else?
Anyways.....I digress..... I know the whole Scott Cook thing results in some sour grapes, but I still believe that if anyone could make a great integral it would be CRK, and it might be a better choice than rehashing another pillar and slab Sebenza. ;)
 
I have had the honor of speaking to Chris on a few occasions and he is all about Innovating and Creating something New, Not rehashing old designs. So dont expect any slip joints, flippers, multitools, lockbacks and such. Just now his nature. I know I WILL be excited to see what they come out with next as it will surely be unique.
 
It's just nearly 2018 and I think it's finally time for crk to make an integral.

It would be worth it. I love my current integrals and now almost everyone has made one for $320-500 and more for customs. Tight tolerances are key in most integrals so it's right up there with what they do. If benchmade can do it, it shouldn't be hard for crk to do it better. Imagine any of the crk models as an integral or an entirely new crk design as an integral.

It could be like the affordable Michael Raymond. Or so I'm wishing. Though I don't think it would top that grail.

Does anyone know what Chris himself thinks of the notion of an integral? And does the company have the capabilities to do such a design with the current equipment? @Tim Reeve do you have any thoughts on the subject? Do you think your customer base would be interested? Or could it attract new buyers to the brand?

I could imagine a 20cv 62hrc slicer blade geometry with ti integral framelock (or nested liner lock) with a flat detent on pb washers. With crk designed handle. Am I just dreaming?
 
I love this semi-integral design.

MacWasil_Scale.JPG



It makes the handle very sturdy yet cleanable.
CRK knives with this would be nice......
 
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If they did it they would most defenetly do it right I'm sure of that. But I'm in no hurry. Now give me a stag stonewashed sebenza and y'all will never hear from me again.
 
Mo2 said:
That's nice too, what model/brand is that?
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It is a custom MacWasil front flipper.
The design is not quite the same as the real integral, as more screws would be necessary to put the scales together.
But the manufacturing cost should be less, as it does not need any special machining.
 
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